Automatic train-pipe coupling



J. ROBINSON AUTOMATIC TRAIN PIPE COUPLING Oct. 16, 1928.

Original Filed July 1, 1921 llllllllnl l \NVENTOK.

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1 M PTfm ATTmtNEY Patented Got. 16, 1928-v nairen STATES tsazs JOSEPHROBINSON, 01* NEW? YORK, N. Y.

AUTOMATIC TRAIN-PEPE COUPLING.

Application filed July 1,1921, Serial N0 481,966. Renewed Fanuary 3,1927.

'lliis invention relates toautomatic train pipe couplings and the objectis to improve the meansby which such couplings are supported from thecar. It is frequently desired to adjust the coupling head forward of thevsupporting bracket to compensate; for coupler wear. With previousconstructions this adjustment is possible only when the coupling is inthe unCOHplGdPOSitlQIl. l Vith the present invention the adjustmentmaybe readily made from either the-coupled or un-,

claims and illustrated'in the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of my 1111- provement.

Figure 2 is a rear elevation thereof, with the coupling head omitted. Va V Figure 3 is a vertical sectional V ew through the lower end of thebracket, shcwin the rear portion of the supporting spring, and theclamp, in section, and

Figure a is a sectional planview on the line i-i of Figure 3. V r r VHaving reference to the drawings: Any

suitable coupling head A may be carried by my improved support,and maybe secured thereto in any desired manner as by dogs 5 behind vwhich theape end of the sup porting spring V I wedge nut 6 which is threaded tothe stud of the head and which expands the end coils of the spring intofirm engagement with the dogs 5. A suitable conduit 8 diverges laterallyof the head and receives in any preferred manner the usual train pipehose, not shown. In my United States Patent No. 1,245,788, datedNovember 6th, 1917 this construction of head and anchor for the spring Bis fully described.

My improved support comprises the aforesaid spring B, which ispreferably con ical in outline and coiled of a tapered barn,

The base end of the spring is firmly locked in a clamp comprising thejaws or seats 9 B is locked by the tapered and 1 0 eachof WAlCll isprovided with an interior semi-circumferential groove or re cess ll. andwhich receives and conforms substantially to the shape and pitch of thebase coilsfof the spring B. Lat-orally extending ears 13 and l lprojectfrom opposite sideso'f the jaws, and through these pass bolts 15 bywhich the jaws are rigidly clamped to the rearend of the spring B, Acylindrical stem or projection 16. extends rearwardly from about thecenter of the jaw 10 into a chamber 17 formed in the lower end of thebracket C. A keyll S e:-:-- tends through the chamber 17 and through anelongated slot 19 formed in the stem 16,

to prevent rotation of the stem in the chamher and thus maintain thecoupling head A properly'positioned. A set screw adjust ment device 20,havinga weighted handle 21 to maintain it in a predetermined position,is adjustably threadedthrough the rear wall of the chamber 17, asshowmand engages the rear end of the stem .16 and serves as an abutmentto shift the spring and the coupling head A forward or back wardrelative to the bracket "C, the set screw 20 is turned in the desireddirection through the medium 'of the handle 21. If the set screw beturned to the right it will urge the clamp, comprising the jaws 9 andlfifforwurd and thus sl'iift thefcouplingf. head A and thespring B awayfrom the. bracket C.- Either this or the reverse adjustment may be madewhile the coupling head is coupled to a counterpart head. Inthismannerthe pressure of the spring B upon the head may be increasedordecreased without parting the cars, and the position of the supportingmeans for, the coupling head, A

may be varied with reference the bracket. 7.

Frequently leaks between the facesof the mated coupling heads can inthis manner he effectually overcome. stitutes the sole means foryieldingly sup porting the coupling head A for maintains Bin The springBe 7 ing' it in the proper service position; The

springyieldingly resists fall movement of the head away from, the-normaluncoupled position; The bracket C is, of course, suitablyconnecte'd tothe usual lug22of the car coupler as by bolt 28'. i i

lVha-t I claim is:

1. In an automatic train pipe connector, a bracket having achamberextending into the same from the front thereof, a memberextending from the front ol the bracket rear Wardly into said chamber, acoupling head,

yielding means connected to said head and to the front end of saidmember for sup- ,porting the head in front of the bracket,

connected to said head and securedin the socketof said member forsupporting the head in front of the bracket, and means engaging the rearportion of said member fQF'DiOVlng the samev in said chamber;

3, Iran automatic train pipe connector,

a brackethaving a chamber provided with i a, rear Wall, a, memberslidabl'y mounted in said chamber, a device. extending through the rearWall of said chamber and adaptedto engage said member for moving thesame in the", chamber, a coupling head, and yielding means rigidlyconnected to said, head and said member. I t

4-. In an automatic train pipe connector, a bracket having an opening atits lower end, a member slidably mounted in; said opening, a couplinghead, a spring secured to said head and, said member for supporting thehead in front ofthe bracket, anda device extending from the rear intosaid opening for engaging and. moving said mem- In an, automatic trainpipe connector, a'bracket having an opening, a;member slid,-

ably and non-rotatably, mounted in, said,

opening, a" device extending through the rear face of'said' bracket forengaging and moving said member, a' couplinghead, and a coiledspringsecured tosaid head and said member. I I Q6.2In; an automatic train pipecoupling,

the combination of a coupling head, a.

' bracket provided at its loyverendf With a chamber, I memben extendinginto said chamberian d adapted'toslide therein, means to preventrotation of the member in the chamber, a spring seated onsa dmemher andconnected with said coupl ng head, means.

to clamp spring to saidi member, and screwpmeans to ad ust the memberinsaid 3 chamber.

7. In an automatic train pipe coupling,

' the combination of a coupling head, a bracket having an openingtherein a member mounted in said opening, and having asemicircumferential groove, 'a spring a portion by the other portion oftherearend of said spring, means to rigidly clamp said part to saidmember to lock said spring in said grooves, means to adjust. the memberand said part relative to said bracket to vary the distance between saidcoupling head, and the bracket, and meansto maintain said adjustingmeans the adjusted position.

8,111 an automatic train pipe coupling, the combination ot a couplinghead, a bracket having an. opening in its lower end provided with a rearWall, a spring between the bracket and said" coupling head forsupporting the latter, a clamp comprising members clamped about the rearend otsaid spring, a projection extending rearvvardly from said clampintogthe opening in said bracket'and having an elongated slot, a pinending through said slot into a Wall of said bracket to preventexcessiverotation ofsait clamp relative to saidbracket, and a device threadedthrough the rear Wall of said opening into engagement With saidprojection to shift said clamp relative to said bracket.

9; In an automatic train p pe connector, a coupling head, a bracket,means for supporting said" head in front of 'saidbracket,

said means includinga. stem movably sup ported on said bracket, a springsecured to said stem and projecting forwardly thereof and connected tosaid head and an, adjustable abutment for limiting rearward niovement ofsaid stem relative to the. bracket. 10 In an automatic trainpipeconnector, a coupling head a bracket, means for supporting said head infront of said; bracket, said means'including astem slidably andvnon-rotatably supported on said, bracket, and an abutment carried bysaid bracket for contacting with' said stem, said abutment beingadjustablein the. bracket toward and fromsaidlhead; i 1 1. InanQautomat-ictrain pipe. connector, in combination, a coupling head, abracket, means for supporting. said: head in. front of saidbracket,saidlmeansincluding a member supported on said. bracket, a springrecured at its rear. end, to said member and at its front end tos'aidfhead, and an abutment threadeddntofsaid. bracket and positioned toengage said'member, to limit the rearward movement thereof. n 5 Y Intestimony WllBTGOfI afiix my signature. 7

